NJ Gov. Christie: “I admire Israel for the enemies it has made”

NJ Governor: "America should stand by its friends and its democratic allies, even, and sometimes especially, when it’s unpopular to do so."

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Rachel Hirshfeld, 09/02/12 15:03

Chris Christie

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New Jersey governor Chris Christie, speaking to an American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) group in New York, emphasized his commitment to Israel, the Weekly Standard reported.

“America should stand by its friends and its democratic allies, even, and sometimes especially, when it’s unpopular to do so," Christie said. "And you know I know, that it may not be fashionable in some of the chancelleries, the foreign ministries, and salons around the world to talk about why America stands with Israel - but that’s no excuse not to be saying, and saying it loudly.”

Christie went on to quote President Franklin Roosevelt, “Please judge me by the enemies I have made.” The governor affirmed, “In that same spirit, I would like to say to all of you tonight: I admire Israel for the enemies it has made.”

Christie addressed the issue of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons by stressing that both “Americans and Israelis believe - we know deep in our bones - that if the Islamic Republic of Iran acquired a nuclear weapons capability, it will be an existential threat to Israel, to America, and to world civilization itself.”

He continued by stressing, “stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capability must be a top priority of the United States of America. Any president, Republican or Democrat, who allows such a thing to occur on his watch, would be acting in a way that is profoundly against the national security interests of the United States and the security interests of our friends in Israel.”

“It’s only by speaking the truth boldly, or by speaking the truth to power that we will prevent this from happening," Chrisite continued. "It is only by decisive actions by leaders who truly understand that a threat to Israel is a threat to America. A threat to the Israeli way of life is a threat to the American way of life. Not only for here in America, but for all the nations that emulate our democracy or are trying to emulate our democracy around the world.”